Time to Play Catch Up, Part IV

Things have been pretty "normal" at home given all that transpired last fall/winter with Bowen.  However, when I looked back at my posts I realized I hadn't given any updates on the family since JULY!

AUGUST-DECEMBER

Last August our not so little (insert sad face here) Gwennie Bear started her first year of kindergarten!  Her preschool no longer provided an appropriate program for her, so we had to make the BIG move into the public school system (biting my nails)!  We transfered Gwen to an outside school district where all of the children in the classroom are of the same ability and the student teacher ratio is basically one to one.  The neat thing about the program is that Gwen is designated to a "typical" kindergarten classroom (for the entire school year) where she gets to participate in activities like art, library, science/social studies, adapted p.e., and music with all same aged peers!

Since August, Gwen's been a busy girl!  We try to enjoy family activities as much as possible and the reward is so great!  I mean look at all the smiles!

Quinten Thomas turned two this past August. He is a sensitive little boy, quick to cry and a little over dramatic at times!  However, he amazes us daily with his speech and his sweet heart.  He loves cars, trucks, trains, fixing whatever daddy is fixing, cartoons (yes, he is a tv head and I am not ashamed to admit it) and just being a little jester!
JANUARY

GWEN'S BIRTHDAY(S)

Gwen celebrated her 6th birthday (first party) with some of her closest buddies!  We had a "daytime" slumber party!  Everyone came dressed in their jammies, we ate "donut" cake, made stained glass mooncatchers, and finished out the morning with storytime under the moonlight (glow stick lit mason jars)!

We celebrated (a second party) with family in Fountain Hills enjoying a nice picnic and ladybug cake by the 560 foot tall fountain!

THAT SILLY QUINTEN

Quinten makes us laugh and impresses us constantly with the things he comes up with! While helping me pick lemons, instead of bringing them in one by one,  he put them all in his dump truck (genius!).  Oh and don't even get me started on his in home personal movie theater that he figured out himself!

MOMMY WEEKEND

I was able to escape for a mom's getaway to Tucson Omni Resort!  Had such a fun time with the girls drinking wine, getting massages, eating good food and staying up til 3am chatting!

  

FEBRUARY

RYAN HOUSE MIRACLE LEAGUE 2015

Ryan House teamed up with the Miracle League again this year to "Play Ball"! Always a FUN time!

  

BUILD-A-BEAR

Gwen's classroom took a fieldtrip to Build-A-Bear at a nearby mall.  Gwen picked her bear, Quinten stuffed her bear, and Gwen dressed and named her Cassie-bear!  

    

MARCH

SPRING BREAK

Spring Break brought some fun adventures as well!  We went with Opa and Oma Magee to the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium.  Miss Cassie joined us at Butterfly Wonderland and Phoenix Children's Museum!

  

  

  

RAISING SPECIAL KIDS DAY

Meeting the local firefighters and fire engine was the highlight of this day!

    

BIRTHDAY DINNER PARTY

I wanted to celebrate my (cringe-33rd) birthday in an intimate way this year.  Jesse and I built a "farm table" (not 100% complete, but functional) and hosted a romantic backyard dinner party (yep, I broke out the china and cooked everything)!  I wanted our guests to feel like they were enjoying a true date night away from the kids!  P.S. Thank you all for getting babysitters! 

    

APRIL

EASTER EGGS GALORE

Gwen and Quinten (along with Miss Cassie) made some brilliant eggs!

  

4 Easter Egg Hunts later, I'd say the Easter Bunny was a little (too) generous this year!